Device for producing missile guiding signals

ABSTRACT

A device for producing signals for guiding a jet-propelled missile includes a periscope associated with an infrared goniometer, the periscope having an eyepiece and being mounted on a support plate. A hand lever is provided for manual guidance of the missile in the event that infrared guidance is ineffective and is positioned to extend in the direction of the line of sight of the periscope. This handle is positioned above the support plate of the periscope and on the side of the periscope opposite that having the eyepiece, for easy and comfortable operation by an operator.

C United States Patent [151 3,661,346 Stangl 51 May 9, 1972 [54] DEVICEFOR PRODUCING MISSILE [56] References Clted GUIDING SIGNALS UNITEDSTATES PATENTS (72] Inventor: Arnold Stnngl, Ottobrunn, Germany2,971,434 2/l96l Surtees "244/31 1 [73] Assignee: Bolltow Gesellschlltlnlt beschrankter Halet a] tong, Ottobrunn near Munich. Germany3.233.847 I2/l966 (hrshbergen. ....244/3. 1 2 |22| l-iletl: 01:1. Ill.I969 3,4l5,464 l2/l96H Bulkow et al. .,244/3,ll I Appl' 866'l39 PrimaryEvaminer-Verlin R. Pendegrass Related U.S. Appllrntlon Data [57]ABSTRACT [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 729,215, May 15, I968.

A device for producing signals for guiding ajet-propelled mis- 30Foreign A n u p i D m sile includes a Periscope associated with aninfrared goniometer, the eriscope having an eyepiece and being mountedon a May 23, 1967 Germany ..B 92667 support Plath A hand lever iprovided for manual guidance of the missile in the event that infraredguidance is ineffective 5 and is positioned to extend in the directionof the line of sight II I s t u h I d 58 Field of Search ..244/3.11-114, the

plate of the periscope and on the side of the periscope opposite thathaving the eyepiece, for easy and comfortable operation by an operator.

2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAY 91912 F ig. I

In van for: Arno/d Slang/ M M M Alforneys:

DEVICE FOR PRODUCING MISSILE GUIDING SIGNALS This application is acontinuation of application Ser. No. 729,2l5, filed May 15, 1968, andnow abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Jet-propelled missiles, afler tiring, areguided to the target by guiding signals provided from a target trackingdevice or the like. The installations for guiding of such missiles areusually automated to such an extent, by the use of an infraredgoniometer, that it is not necessary for the gunner or operator to use ahand lever or control stick. The activity of the gunner, after firing orlaunching of the missile, consists substantially in manipulating aperiscope whose movement produces all the signals necessary for guidingthe missile. However, if the sensitive parts of the infrared guidancesystem fail during rough operation of the installation, or if theinstallation is operated by a gunner not sufficiently familiar withinfrared guidance techniques, there arises the necessity of combiningsuch a semi-automatic installation with a manually operated,Cardansupported hand lever. Combination guiding installations, where themissile can be controlled selectively either semi-automatically ormanually, are known. In the known installations, the necessary units aremounted in side-by-side relation on a common support so that theoperating handles are arranged side-by-side on one surface.

With these known installations, as soon as it is necessary to switchfrom semi-automatic guidance to manual guidance, or vice versa, thegunner must turn to the proper handles and adjusting means of therespective apparatus to be operated. Correspondingly, he must change hisbody position. As a result, his attention is diverted from observationof those processes, such as tracking of a target, on which it isessential that he keep an eye. Moreover, since the operation of guidingsignal installations for guided missiles requires, in any event, greatskill and concentration of the gunner or operator, any disturbance anddiversion is undesirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the production ofguiding signals for guided missiles and, more particularly, to animproved guiding installation of the semi-automatic type including amanual adjusting member operable to influence the guiding signals.

In accordance with the invention, the hand lever or control stick is socombined in the overall guiding arrangement, as being combined with thesignal block or unit of a periscopic installation, that a favorablearrangement of the control stick or hand lever, and the operationthereof, is adapted to the anatomy of the human body. Thus, the handlever or control stick is so arranged that it can be easily operated ina comfortable body position of the gunner while, on the other hand, itis also protected against accidental or inadvertent operation.

More particularly, the hand lever is arranged above a support for theperiscope and on that side of the periscope remote from the eyepiece,the handle or control stick extending in the viewing direction of theperiscope. Thereby there is realized a guiding installation which isarranged for selective operation either with infrared guidance ortracking or with manual guidance or tracking. In addition, the actuationof the hand lever, handle or control stick is adapted, to a greatextent, to the physiological movements of the gunner, and particularlythe movements of his hand and forearm.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the bottom or support plateof the signal block, which represents a part of the periscope structure,is designed as a support for the arm or hand of the gunner duringoperation of the hand lever or control stick. Also, the manual controlmeans may be provided as a self-contained unit which can be readilyinstalled in the signal block, whereby it can be tested and replacedseparately as a unit.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved guiding signalproducing installation for guided missiles.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an installation ofthe semi-automatic-type, and incorporating a manual guidance hand leveror control stick particularly positioned for easy and comfortableoperation by a gunner or operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide such an installation inwhich the hand lever or control stick is combined with a signal block ofa periscopic tracking plant.

Yet, another object of the invention is to provide such an installationin which the hand lever or control stick is so positioned that it can beeasily operated by the gunner, in a comfortable body position, while thehand lever or control stick is protected against accidental operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide such an installation inwhich the hand lever is arranged above a periscope support and on thatside of the periscope opposite the eyepiece, with the hand lever orcontrol stick extending in the viewing direction of the periscope.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such an installationwherein actuation of the hand lever is adapted to a great extent to thephysiological movements of the gu nner, particularly the gunner's handand forearm.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an installation inwhich a bottom or support plate of the signal block, forming part of theperiscope structure, is designed as a body support for the operation ofthe hand lever or control stick.

A further object of the invention is to provide such an installation inwhich the manual control, influenced by the control handle or stick, isdesigned as a self-contained unit which can be installed in or removedfrom the signal block readily so that it can be tested and replacedseparately as a compact unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For an understanding of the principlesof the invention, reference is made to the following description of atypical embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompany drawings.

in the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a periscopic guiding installation forguided missiles, and embodying the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a top plan view corresponding to FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The missile guiding installationor device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 can work selectively either withinfrared guidance or with manual guidance. The device comprisessubstantially a signal block I, a position-finding or tracking block 2,with attached control electronics 3, and the aiming mechanism orperiscope 4. In the housing of position-finding block 2, there isarranged, at the eye level of a gunner (not represented), the periscopeeyepiece 5. On the opposite side of signal block I, there is arrangedthe hand lever or control stick 6 for manual guidance, and this handlever or control stick extends in the viewing direction of theperiscope.

The bottom plate 7 of signal block 1 is a part of the periscopic guidinginstallation, and is, in accordance with the invention, designed as asupport for the hand and foreann of a gunner sitting behind theeyepiece, in the case of manual guidance. The guiding operation iscarried out, both in semiautomatic guidance and in manual guidance, bythe gunner in the same perfectly relaxed body position. Thus, the gunnercan give his undivided attention to observation and guidance or trackingof the missile.

Preferably, the manual guidance unit operated by hand iever 6 isarranged as a self-contained unit which can be installed in signal block1 as represented by the separating line 8. Thereby, this unit can bereadily removed from signal block 1, for inspection, repair orreplacement.

With the arrangement of components as described above. the gunnermanipulates periscope 4 using the two handles extending laterally toopposite sides of the unit and perpendicularly to the neutral positionof control handle 6, to manipulate telescope 4 to follow the target. Theposition-finding block 2, with its attached control electronics 3,transmits guiding signals to the missile in accordance with the viewingdirection of periscope 4, so that the guided missile will tend to followthe line of sight from periscope 4 to the target.

Should the semi-automatic or automatic guidance system contained inposition-finding block 2 fail, or become defective for any reason, theoperator simply grasps control handle 6, which is located in a commonvertical plane with eyepiece 5 and which extends directly opposite toeyepiece 5, and adjusts control handle 6 to point in the direction ofthe target. As a result, the manual guidance arrangement in signal blockI transmits appropriate guiding signals to the missile to guide themissile toward the target. The manual guidance means 1,6,8 thus takesover" in the event of failure of the automatic or semi-automaticinfrared guidance means 2, 3.

When guidance is to be effected by operation of handle 6, periscope 4serves only as a means for observation, and the gunner must form, byhimself, the guiding signals as a function of the visually perceiveddeviation of the missile from the likewise only visually perceived lineof sight, by moving control stick 6 about two perpendicular axes. Themechanical movements of control stick 6 are transformed, in signal box1, into electrical signals which are transmitted to the missile.Periscope 4 is not moved unless the missile has moved out of the fieldof view thereof. The manually operated guiding arrangement thus is anaid so that the gunner is not defenseless against an attacking enemy incase the semi-automatic guiding arrangement fails, and is thus availablefor emergency use.

Since the manual guiding arrangement is connected with the Periscope, itfollows movement of the periscope in azimuth, so that control stick 6 isalways parallel to the optical axis of the periscope. The periscope isnot moved in elevation.

I claim:

1. ln missile guiding apparatus, of the type including firstsemi-automatic guiding device, a second manual guiding device and aguiding signal block, with the semi-automatic guiding device including aperiscope having an eyepiece and a viewing direction, and having anoptical axis adjustable in azimuth and in elevation by laterallyprojecting handle means, the semi-automatic guiding device furtherincluding an infrared goniometer operatively associated with theperiscope and the signal block: the improvement comprising said manualguiding device being positioned beneath said periscope to form a unittherewith and being operatively associated with said signal block; saidmanual guiding device including a forwardly extending control stick in acommon vertical plane with said eyepiece rigidly movable in azimuth withsaid periscope, said control stick being adjustable in azimuth and inelevation, and extending laterally from said unit at the side oppositesaid eyepiece and in said viewing direction.

2. ln missile guiding apparatus, the improvement claimed in claim 1,including a bottom plate secured to said signal block to support saidunit, said bottom plate extending laterally beyond either side of saidunit to serve as a support for the hands or forearms of an opera-torduring manipulation of said apparatus.

* i I i a

1. In missile guiding apparatus, of the type including firstsemi-automatic guiding device, a second manual guiding device and aguiding signal block, with the semi-automatic guiding device including aperiscope having an eyepiece and a viewing direction, and having anoptical axis adjustable in azimuth and in elevation by laterallyprojecting handle means, the semi-automatic guiding device furtherincluding an infrared goniometer operatively associated with theperiscope and the signal block: the improvement comprising said manualguiding device being positioned beneath said periscope to form a unittherewith and being operatively associated with said signal block; saidmanual guiding device including a forwardly extending control stick in Acommon vertical plane with said eyepiece rigidly movable in azimuth withsaid periscope, said control stick being adjustable in azimuth and inelevation, and extending laterally from said unit at the side oppositesaid eyepiece and in said viewing direction.
 2. In missile guidingapparatus, the improvement claimed in claim 1, including a bottom platesecured to said signal block to support said unit, said bottom plateextending laterally beyond either side of said unit to serve as asupport for the hands or forearms of an operator during manipulation ofsaid apparatus.